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G. J. REICHARDT. HINGE.

No. 495,268. Patented Apr. 1l, 1893.

v(No Model.)

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. REICHARD'I, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,268, dated April 11, 1893.

Application tiled September 3, 1892. Serial No. 444,936. (No model.)

VTo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. REICHARDT, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hinges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like figures refer to like parts.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hinges, and to one that is more especially adapted for use in folding or bed lounges where the front of the frame when folded together must present a ilush and smooth surface, and it will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a lounge, a part being broken away at each end, and showing my improved hinges in place. Fig. 2 is a detail side view of one of my hinges in place on the end piece of the lounge frame, the hinge being in afolded position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the hinge when the parts are unfolded. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same, showing the parts in an intermediate or partly unfolded position. Fig. 5 is a front edge view showing the two parts folded together.

In detail, l represents a lounge of any suitable construction or design, 2 being the lower and 3 the upper frame of the same.

4 are the cross or end pieces connecting the lower frame together, and 5 similar ones connecting the upper frame in a similar manner, the ends of these cross pieces being recessed, as shown at 6, and having a groove or recess 7 also formed along the inner part of theirabutting faces.

8 represents the main or body parts of my hinge, which are formed of iiat metallic plates, their inner ends secured preferably by screws to the inner sides of the end pieces 4 and 5, and their outer ends extending over the recesses 6 and ush with the ends of the pieces 4 and 5.

9 represents straps or links which are pivoted at their ends to the plates 8 near their corners. The different pivot points are shown at 10 in Fig. 2, one being pivoted to the upper outer corner of the lower plate 8 and extending up to a similar point on the upper plate 8,where its opposite end is pivoted, and

the other strap or link being pivoted to the outer corner of the lower plate 8 and extending up toa similar point on the upper plate 8, where it is pivoted. When the hinge is opened out the links extend diagonally across the space between the plates as in Fig. 3. The links or straps are curved for the main portion of their length so as to give the carpet or other material on the front of the lounge as much room to play in as possible, and to enable the material to be tacked at the middle of the ends of the pieces 4 and 5. The links near their pivotal points, which come close together when folded, are straight for a portion of their length as seen at 11 in Fig. 3 and also in Fig. 4, so that when the links are folded, the straight parts of the links extend across the end of the opening caused by the cut out grooves in the end pieces of the lounge, and in which the bedding is secured, so as to fill such'opening and protect the carpet or material from being cut by the sharp inner corners of the plates. The two end pieces 4 and 5, together with the hinge, then present a smooth and even surface without any proj ections, so that the carpet or other material with which the front of the lounge is covered will always have a smooth surface to bear against, one of the links or straps being pivoted on the inner sides of the plates 8 and working within the recesses 6 in the ends of the pieces 4 and 5, and the other working on the outside. The plates '8 are punched or tongues cut out, as at 12, and bent inward or outward to form a projection or stop on the sides of each of the plates 8, one extending into the recess 6 and the other outward. These stops are adapted to stop the links or straps 9 when the hinge is folded up to prevent any lateral movement of the parts `and give strength and fixedness to the hinge.

The advantage of my hinge over others` of the same class is that it having curved links will not shear or tear the covering of the front of the lounge nor the bedding inside, and that it will present a flush front, the straight part of the links protecting the covering from` the corners of the end pieces of the lounge; that it has two diagonally crossing links, and the weight of the upper frame of the lounge, which is to be unfolded, is sup- IOC' ported equally by each link during the whole of its movement from a folded to an unfolded position, and the upper part of the lounge after it has passed a vertical position cannot drop down suddenly, thus jarring the lounge and straining the hinge, as is the case with some of the hinges in present use. The movement from one position to another is always smooth and positive. It being formed of four parts, namely, the two plates and the two links, there is but little chance of its getting out of repair, and should this happen at any time it is an easy matter to fix the same, owin g to its simplicity of construction. While presenting the advantages of a concealed hinge, through its construction it is as strong, if not stronger, than the ordinary strap hinge, and without any of the accompanying objections. The pointl of its strengthderived, as stated before, by having two straps which are pivoted on opposite sides of the plates G. This strength of thehinge is greatly increased by having these links pivoted to the plates so that when open, or partly open, (the position when the greatest strain is on them,) the pivot points of the links are diametrically opposite to each other, each acting to relieve the Weight to a certain degree off the other. The hinge also permits the turning of the parts hinged together entirely around, whereby the piece formerly above is after the operation below the other piece.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. A hinge consisting of two independent links pivoted at each end in a reverse order at diagonally opposite points of the parts to be hinged together, such links being straight a portion of their length, and being curved the remainder of their length, substantially as and for the purpose described and shown.

2. A hinge consisting of two metallic plates, two independent links pivoted at each end in reverse order at diagonally opposite points of such plates, such links being partly straight and partly curved, and tongues punched in said plates forming stops to limit the movement of such links, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of August, 1892.

GEORGE J. REIOHARDT.

Vitnessos:

H. l. NEALY, E. B. GRIFFIl-H. 

